American rock legend Bruce Springsteen released his first ever compilation album 20 years ago today, back in 1995.
The album features songs recorded since the beginning of his career in 1974, but additionally includes four new songs both recorded for the album and cut from Springsteen’s previous album Born in the U.S.A. These included ‘Secret Garden’, which peaked at number 17 in the UK after featuring in the Tom Cruise’s 1996 film Jerry Maguire.
Contemporary reviews for the album were unfavourable, with Entertainment Weekly calling the album ‘weary’, questioning whether this was the beginning of the end and if Springsteen even believed in himself anymore.
In actuality, the album summarised Springsteen’s greatest chart successes up to that point, including ‘Thunder Road’, ‘Dancing in the Dark’ and ‘Glory Days’. It preceded the release of eight further albums including the most recent High Hopes, in 2014.
